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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-03-19, Page 1414 Times -Advocate Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Local skaters compete at nationals EXETER — Four local skaters, all members of the Exeter Skating Club, par- ticipated in the 2008 BMO Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships recently in Chilliwack B.C., featuring Kami Fevery and Abbey Oke who brought home gold and made a national record, and Alyssa Becker, whose team placed seventh, while Katrina Jeromkin's team was sixth in her category. In the following quotes, the skater's describe their year: Kami Fevery This past year I was an active member of the Ilderton Silver Jets synchronized skating team, being a member of the Exeter synchronized skating club for eight years, with coaches Kathy McLlwain and Melissa Hendricks. I developed an enthusiasm for the growing sport of synchronized skating. However, after a loss of numbers for the Exeter Skating Club, I decided to join the llderton Syncronized Skating Club, before moving on in my education and leaving the Exeter area. Being a member of the Silver Jets team involved four to five hours of on -ice and off -ice training, and alot of team bonding. Slowly our team of 17 skaters and coaches Carol and Alma Moir worked together to comprise two skating numbers for national skating championships. After having two great performances, our team was thrilled to bring home the gold medal and many memories and friendships. Abbey Oke This year has been exciting and rewarding. This is only my second year on the Ilderton Silver Jets, and I feel I have improved so much as a skater. It was great to experience such difficult competition and to be on a hard working team like the Ilderton Silver Jets. We practiced three and a half hours a week, and a lot more once we got closer to the nationals. Last year we placed second at the national and this year we pulled off two amazing skates, achieving a gold medal and a national record. Although I will not be skating with Ilderton next year, I still plan to continue synchronized skating, hopefully at the competitive level. Alyssa Becker I am a member of the Ilderton Junior Jets. After skating synchro for five years with Kathy McLlwain in Exeter, I tried out for a spot on the llderton squad two years ago, and since then have helped the squad achieve numerous club records, with the highlight being winning the 2007 BMO Canadian Championships novice category, and also making a club record this year in Chilliwack, as the team moved up to the junior level, finish- ing with the highest score all season. After a rough short program, the Ilderton Junior Jets were in eleventh place, but the long program was executed perfectly, allowing a seventh place finish out of 18 teams. I train 10 months of the year, five to seven hours of on -ice training weekly, with one to two hours of off -ice training with a personal trainer. Katrina Jeromkin This has been an exciting year, and has presented ongoing challenges, while also allowing me to make friends. London Syncronicity was made up of 18 girls, ages 14 to 23 years old. Many of the girls were in high school, college or university from London and area.The team ended up in sixth overall, although the team was in fifth after the first skate. We were happy with how we skated. This team has helped make my year one of the most memorable years of my life. I hope to see all of the girls again next year, and I can't wait. The four skaters are working towards finishing their gold test disciplines with Skate Canada, on top of training synchro- nized skating. Exeter Skating Club — Four Exeter area skaters competed in the 2008 BMO Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships recently in Chilliwack B.C. Above from left are Alyssa Becker,Abbey Oke, Kami Fevery and Katrina Jeromkin. (photo/submitted) Mission services donation — The students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School recently gathered to listen, learn and celebrate, as MaryVernon, representing Mission Services London was a guest, speaking about homelessness, reaching out to others and the importance of always having an open heart. At the end of the assembly, the students presented Vernon with 155 decorated lunch bags, 390 juice boxes and 848 books. All of these items were donated to Rothome (Women's and Family Shelter) of Mission Services, in celebration of the Lenten season. Pictured above are some of the staff and students of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, along with Vernon are studentsTaylor Lightfoot, JacobVanValkengoed, Patrick Poirier, Emily Conlin, Jessica Jones, Hailey Richardson,Audrey Kester, Sylvain Moreau, Joshua Juhnke, Dylan Relouw, Connor Barkauskaus, Michael Boyle, Jackson Relouw, Grace Kobe, Beth Kester, Parker Kinsey, Claire Gordon, Cara Morrisey,TeddyVanhie, Colin Fevery, Zac Shaddock, Grant Darling,Adam Hall, Nicole Regier, Jessica Lavery, Lukasz Pach, Jessica McCann, Dominique Langlois, Rebecca Glavin, Nikki Smale and Jillian Regier; staff are teachers Carrie Ducharme-Ivatts and Gloria Miotto-Wilks, principal Mike Bruneel and Father Ray Lawhead. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) POLICE BRIEF Grand Bend OPP catch woman impaired GRAND BEND — It is alleged that March 14, Lambton OPP officers stopped a 1998 Ford Explorer on Ontario Street in Grand Bend. After speaking to the female driver, officers determined that she had been consuming alcoholic beverages. She was arrested and sub- sequent breath tests determined that a 44 -year-old Dashwood woman was over the legal limit. She will appear in Sarnia Court April 28 to answer to the charge of being over the legal limit. TV journalist to emcee dinner EXETER — Area television jour- nalist Scott Miller has been announced as emcee of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Dinner. Miller is an on -air reporter with TV's A Channel. "As someone who grew up on a family farm in Oxford County I greatly value the natural envi- ronment of this part of Ontario," Miller said. "I am excited to be part of an event that is so greatly supported by the community to support conservation, education Scott Miller and recreation opportu- nities in the Ausable Bayfield watershed." The graduate of Fanshawe College's Broadcast Journalism program joined the A Channel (then The New NX) in 2002. He has covered a wide range of stories including environmental themes during his tenure there. The Conservation Dinner has been lucky to have numerous celebrities serve as masters of cer- emonies at the gala charitable event over the past 18 years. They range from Jesse's Journey founder John Davidson last year to CTV sportscaster Randy Tieman the year before to statesman Jack Riddell to TV meteorologist Jay Campbell and others. Miller follows a long line of distinguished masters of ceremonies who have supported this fundraising event. The Conservation Dinner is orga- nized by a volunteer Dinner Committee that includes the Exeter Lions Club, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority and commu- nity volunteers. The dinner has a live auction, silent auction, special raffle, general raffle and sit-down din- ner. The event has, with the support of donors, patrons and volunteers, set back-to-back fundraising records, surpassing $40,000 in each of the last two years. The Conservation Dinner has raised more than half a million dol- lars over the past 18 years for pro- jects which have included funding of $1 for each student attending a conservation education program, accessible trails, support for the MacNaughton Morrison section of the South Huron Trail, accessible fishing docks, boardwalks, and commemorative woods. This year's 19th annual dinner is April 17 and it takes place at the South Huron Recreation Centre in Exeter. To find out if tickets are still available phone -235-2610 or 1- 888-286-2610. Tickets are $50 and an income tax receipt is available for half of that cost. Visit conservationdinner.com or abca. on. ca for more information.